Snowplow



April 28, 1925.

F. L. FULCER ET AL SNOWPLOW gwvento'w 4 7i .fZr/cer .22. 1f 3,33%)" 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 4. 1924 April 28, 1925.

F. L. FULCER ET AL SNOWPLOW m l 3 R 4 w 4m A. 1 \W n p A ,l a e n F Gun mi April 28, 1925. i 1,535,913

F. L. FULCER ET AL SNOWPLOW Filed April 4, 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented- Apr. 2 8, 1925.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. FRED L. FULCER AND RAYMOND J'. RITGER, F HORTONVILLE, WISCONSIN.

' SNOWPLOW.

Application filed April 4,.1924. Serial No. 704,177. I

'10, improvements in snow plows and has for its principal object to provide an efficient means for removing snow from the road surface. a

' One of the important objects of the I present invention is to provide a snow plow wherein means is associated therewith for conveying the snow removed from the surface of the road by the scoop to a blower, means being further associated on the snow plow for breaking up the lumps of snow before the same reaches the blower.

,A further object of the invention is to provide a snow plow wherein the several parts thereof are adapted to be actuated simultaneously, means being further provided for disconnecting the further operation of the several elements whenever desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a snow plow of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable,

and further well adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of our specification and which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same, 1

Figure'l' is 'a top plan view of my improved snow plow with the blowerv extension pipe removed,

Figure 2- is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough,

Figure 3 is a detail view of the blower casing with the fan mounted therein,

Figure 4 is atop plan view of a steering CAD invention, and

mechanism forming a part of the present Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the frame upon the rear end of which is supported apower plant 2 .of any well known construction. The purpose of this ower plant will hereinafter he more fully escribed. The forward portion of the frame 1 is inclined as shown at 3 in the drawings with reference more particularly to Figure '2, and ,the lower outer edge of the forward portion of the frame 1 has mounted thereon a transversely extending scoop 4 which is supported in close proximity to the surface of the road or ground over which the snow plow travels when in use. The rear portion of the frame 1 is further supported on the wheeled truck 5 whereby the plow may be easily transported from place to place and connected to the rear end of the plow is the hitch 6 which provides a means for connection to the draft device adapted to be connected to the plow such as a tractor.

Extending transversely between the sides 'of the inclined portion 3 of the frame,

adjacent the upper edge of the scoop and the upper portion of the inclined frame 3, are the shafts 7 and 8 respectively, suitable sprocket wheels, such as are shown at 9, being provided on the shafts 7 and 8 adjacent the inner sides of the inclined portion 3. Adapted to travel over the sprocket wheels on the shafts 7 and 8 respectively, are the sprocket chains. 10 and between which ex' tend the endless conveyor belt 11. Arranged transversely on the conveyorbelt 11 at spaced intervals are the flanges 12, the purpose of which will also be hereinafter more fully described. The sides of the inclined portion 3 of the frame are provided with the upstanding side walls 13 which cooperate with the side portions 14 associated with the scoop 4 for preventing the snow from accidentally falling off of the -conveyor before the same is delivered to the blower.

Extending upwardly from the upper portion of the inclined portion 3 of the frame 1 on the side thereof, are the vertical standards 15. Extending transversely across the frame 1 and having ends journalled in the extending brackets or standards 15, is the transverse shaft 16 and upon which are mounted or otherwise fastened thereto, the heaters 17, the same preferably being in the formof blades, such as is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and any number of these heaters may be provided on the shafts as is deemed necessary and are furthermore arranged in proper spaced relation with each other in the manner as shown in Figure 1. The heaters 17 on the shaft 16 are preferably arranged directly above the upper portion of the endless belt or conveyor, and are adapted to cooperate therewith. Adapted to extend over the heaters 17 and supported by the frame 1, is the hood 18.

Supported on the frame 1 between the sides thereof and arranged directly in rear of the endless conveyor and heater, is the blower casin 19. The bottom of the casing 19 is preferably closed, while the upper portion thereof converges toward the central portion and terminates into an outlet pipe 20, in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The rear wall of the casing 19 is closed as shown at 21, while the front wall or the wall adjacent the endless conveyor or heater, has its major portion open, as is shown at 22. Supported in the casing 19, are the pair of rotary blades or fans 23 and 24 respectively, and these bands are preferably supported on the shafts 25 and 26 which extend through the rear wall 21 of the casing 19 and are journalled in a suitable manner in the transversely extending braces 27 which are supported between the sides of the frame 1. Extending upwardly from the bottom of the front wall of the casing 19 and communicating with the upper end of the conveyor belt 11 is the pan or hopper 28. The hopper 28 is preferably inclined in the manner as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and is adapted to cooperate with the conveyor belt and the beater 17 mounted on the shaft 16 and in the manner hereinafter to be more fully described.

For the purpose of actuating the conveyor belt, the beater shaft 16 upon which the beater 17 is mounted and the rotar 23 and 24 respectively, simultaneous y, we provide a suitable gearing which is connect ed up with the power plant 2 in the manner to be presently described. flhe rear end of the shafts 25 and 26 respectively, which support the rotary blades or fans 23 and 24 respectively, have bevelled gears 29 and 30 secured respectively thereon. These bevelled gears are adapted to mesh with the bevelled gears 31 and 32 respectively, supported on the transversely extending shaft 33. The

shaft 33 is preferably supported by means of the brackets 34, the latter being arranged on fans the transversely extending braces extending across the frame 1 in the manner as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. An additional. bevelled gear 35 is carried by the intermediate portion of the transverse shaft 33 and is adapted to mesh with a bevelled gear 36 mounted on the forward end of the drive shaft 37. This drive shaft 37 is adapted to be driven by the drive shaft of the power plant 2 in the manner well known in the art and for the purpose of disconnecting the bevelled gear 36 from engagement with the bevelled gear 35, we provide the clutch lever 38. The construction above described provides a means for rotating the rotary fans 23 and 24 mounted in the casing 19 in opposite directions whereby the fans will efficiently and positively discharge the snow delivered into the casing out through the discharge pipe 20.

The outer end of the transverse shaft 33 extends through the side rail of the frame 1 and has mounted thereon a bevelled gear 39. Supported in any suitable manner on the aforementioned side rail of the frame 1, is

the longitudinally extending shaft 40. The brackets 41 are provided for holding the shaft in position on the frame. The rear end of the shaft 40 has a bevelled gear 42 mounted thereon which is adapted to mesh with the bevelledgear 39 mounted on the outer end of the transverseshaft 33. 'lheopposite end of the shaft 40 has the worm gear 43 provided thereon and this worm gear meshes with the gear wheel 44 mounted on the outer end of the shaft 8 which supports the upper portion of the endless conveyor belt 11. This construction provides a means whereby the endless conveyor may be actuated through the medium of the gearing and the drive shaft of the power plant 2.

For the purpose of actuating the beater shaft 16 upon which the heaters 17 are supported, we provide the shaft 16 with a suitable sprocket wheel 45 which is in alinement with the sprocket wheel 46 supported on the shaft 47. The latter extends through the frame having a bevelled gear 48 mounted on the outer end-thereof adapted to mesh with a similar bevelled gear 49 provided on the intermediate portion of the shaft 40. A sprocket chain 50 is trained over the alining sprocket wheels 45 and 46 respectively, and it will thus be seen that the endless conveyor, the beater shaft with the heaters thereon and the rotary fans will all be simultaneous-- ly actuated when the drive shaft of the powthe road to be delivered onto the endless conveyor belt 11 and with the conveyor belt,

will be deposited into the pan or hopper 38 whereby suction from the fans 23 and 24 will cause the show to be drawn up into the casing and will be discharged outwardl through the discharge pipe 20 on the sid of' the road.- The purpose of the beater shaft 16 and the heaters 17 mounted thereon is to provide a means for breaking up the heavy lumps of snow before the same reach the blower fans and will thereby prevent any posibility of the snow from being acoidentally discharged back onto the road from which it has been scraped. The snow plow will be moved along the ground until all of the snow has been scraped therefrom by the scoop 4 and the side walls 13 will prevent the 'possibilityof the snow delivered to the endless conveyor from being discharged laterally from the frame previous to the same being delivered to the blower fan. In

this manner, a road or any other surface may be readily cleaned from snow in an efficient mannerand at a very low cost.

In "Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, we have I shown a steering means which is adapted to be associated with the rear end of the frame 1 and the same comprises the supporting base 51 upon which is supported the vertical shaft 52, the latter being arranged centrally thereon. The upper end of the shaft 52 extends through a suitable plate 53 which is supported by means of the brackets 54 and has mounted on its upper end the gear wheel 55 which cooperates with the worm gear 56 mounted onthe shaft 57 which is journalled in suitable brackets 58 supported on the plate 53 and the brackets 54 respectively, and on the outer end of which is the operating handle 59. Mounted on the vertical shaft 52 between the plates 53 and the supporting base 51 is the drum 60. Steering cables such as are shown at 61 and 62 in the drawings-are connected at their forward ends to the lower portion of the inclined portion 3 of the frame 1 as shown at 63 in the drawings and extend along the sides of the frame and through the guides 64 supported laterally on the sides of the frame, the rear ends of the cables extending around suitable pulley wheels 65 supported on the ends of the supporting base 51 and are connected to the drum 60. The operator of the snow plow may thus enable the same to be steered during its transportation by actuating the handle 59 .in either direction, in the manner as is well known in the art, and a further description of the same is not thought necessary.

For the purpose of further breaking the lumpsof snow as the scoop comes in contact with the snow, teeth such as are shown at 4' are provided on the scoop 4 extend out:

-wardly therefrom as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. Sup ported on the outlet pipe 20 of the blower casing 19 and adapted for rotary movement thereon is the blower extension pipe or spout 66. The outer end of the spout is provided with an adjustable cap- 67 for per-' mitting the o )erator to direct the discharge of the snow rpm the. spout. A cable 68 is secured to the cap 67 and is attached to the upper forward portion of a handle 69. The handle 69- is carried by the spout 66 and extends outwardly therefrom in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The outer portion ofthe handle has a weight 70 to balance and support the spout on the upper end of the blower pipe. The provision of a spout and handle therefore enables the snow to be discharged on opposite sides of the snow plow, or if desired may be deposited intoawagon traveling along the side of the snow plow. The handle facilitates the turning of the spout in any direction described.

The simplicity of our snow plow enables the same to be easily and quickly placed in an operative position and does not require the employment of a considerable number of men in order to operate the several parts of the plow. A snow plow of the character above described may further be manufactured at a very low cost and will also be strong and durable.

\Vhile we'have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, it-is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: i

1. A snow plow comprising a frame, a hopper mounted thereon, ejectors mounted in the hopper for removing the snow therefrom, an inclined elevator arranged to deliver the snow into the hopper, cutters lo cated in advance of the elevator, and beaters located above the delivery end of the elevator and the receiving edge of the. hopper,

and adapted to reduce the volume of' snow which is elevated by the elevator into strips as it passes into the hopper. I

2. A snow plow including a frame, a hopper mounted thereon, ejectors mounted in the hopper for removing the snow thereliver the snow into the hopper, side walls rising above the elevator, cutters-located in advance of the elevator, and beaters located above the delivery end of the elevator and the receiving edge of the hopper adapted to reduce the volume of snow which is defrom, an inclined elevator arranged to delivered by the elevator into strips as it of cables attached to the front end of the passes into the hopper for engagement With snow plow and trained rearwardly along 10 the ejeetors. its sides and over the pulleys and attached 3. In combination, a platform adapted to to the drum and coiled thereabout. 5 be mounted on a truck or the like pulleys In testimony whereof We afiix our signaat the ends of the platform, a drum. at the tures. intermediate portion of the platform means FRED L. FULCER. for rotating the drum, a snow plow, a pair RAYMOND J, RITUER. 

